People providing unpaid care

At the 2021 Census, People providing unpaid care across Australia was 11.9%. The share of people aged 15 and over who, in the two weeks before the Census, gave unpaid help to someone with a disability, a long-term health condition, or who needed assistance because they are older.

Share of people aged 15+ who provided unpaid assistance to someone with a disability or due to old age. It is calculated as a percentage of the relevant population or dwellings, so it can be compared fairly between large and small areas.

Unpaid carers shoulder work that would otherwise fall to the health and aged-care systems. A high share points to communities supporting ageing or ill family members, often at a cost to their own work and wellbeing.

Worth knowing: It counts care given to someone the carer does not necessarily live with, and is self-reported, so it understates the most informal, everyday help.

Across the 2,383 SA2 areas with data, People providing unpaid care ranges from 0.0% to 28.6%, with a typical (median) area at 12.3%.

Yes — People providing unpaid care is measured consistently enough to compare across the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, so the trend over time is meaningful. Nationally it has risen from 10.9% in 2011 to 11.9% in 2021.

Use the interactive map to compare People providing unpaid care down to block (sa1) and statistical area 2 (sa2) level, or search any suburb, postcode or council area to see its value in context against state and national figures.